From the President "Houston, we have a problem."
Though not an entirely accurate representation of the words spoken by Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert in 1970, while communicating the discovery of an explosion that had damaged their spaceship, the movie's creative adaption of the original line became a popular phrase in our culture. It describes that "Uh oh" moment when something has gone wrong, a solution is needed, and the faster, the better. Growing up on an Air Force Base near the Space Center, my bedroom walls were lined with glossy signed photographs of the astronauts in the 1960s. I learned early that innovation requires curiosity and these pioneers in space were attempting to solve problems, the primary requirement, it seems, to try something new.
"WE CONTINUE TO POINT OUR STUDENTS IN THE DIRECTION OF JESUS..."
Back in mid-summer 1899, a different group of pioneers was granted a charter to open a new university on the holiness campgrounds a mile north of Greenville, Texas. Welcoming the first class of students in September of that same year, there was little time to recruit faculty, build classrooms, or develop curriculum, but innovators often leave the details to others. From the beginning, the university was designed to be a liberal arts Christian institution, welcoming all denominations and committed to being affordable and accessible for those seeking a purposefully different kind of higher education. Throughout SNU's history, resources have been limited, with some times being much scarcer than others. Records tell the story of lean times, sacrificial support, and at least a time or two when the institution's survival was in great question. During my first year as president at SNU I had the privilege of sharing a meal with one of the
"SEE, I AM DOING A NEW THING!" ISAIAH 43:19
4
SNU MAGAZINE | FALL 2021
SNU.EDU/ALUMNI
